Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL step deck rate
$1,910step deck
+3.4% from last month
- Per mile
- $6.82
- Distance
- 280 mi
- Typical range
- $1,605–$2,216
- Transit
- 1 day
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Wausau to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.6%
- 1 year
- +18.6%
- 5 years
- +24.9%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $1,628
- Fuel
- $282
- All-in estimate
- $1,910
Return trip
Chicago → Wausau$2,081This direction runs 8% below the return trip. Leaving WI prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Wausau to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $1,379 | $4.93 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $1,648 | $5.89 | |
| 48' flatbed | $1,739 | $6.21 | |
| Step deck | $1,910 | $6.82 | |
| Power only | $1,176 | $4.20 | |
| Hotshot | $885 | $3.16 | |
| 26' box truck | $884 | $3.16 | |
| Sprinter van | $552 | $1.97 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.
More lanes from Wausau
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $5,843 | $5.84 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $7,711 | $3.85 |
| Houston, TX | $5,510 | $4.27 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $7,332 | $4.35 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $5,383 | $5.61 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5,842 | $4.21 |
| San Diego, CA | $7,674 | $3.85 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,810 | $4.42 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,257 | $3.85 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,973 | $4.35 |
| Houston, TX | $3,759 | $3.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,375 | $2.57 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,741 | $3.48 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,107 | $3.32 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,863 | $4.36 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,321 | $3.53 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL?
A Step deck from Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL is estimated at $1,910 all-in in October 2026, or $6.82 a mile over about 280 mi. Quotes typically land between $1,605 and $2,216.
How far is Wausau, WI from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 280 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 1 day of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $282 of the $1,910 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,628 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Wausau, WI?
The reverse direction is estimated at $2,081, which makes Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL 8% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Lane history applies the current origin and destination adjustments to the national series back to December 2003. Methodology